The new Miss America has broken her silence to address the cruel online outrage over her pageant makeup.
Cassie Donegan, who was originally Miss New York, felt ecstatic about winning her new title until she encountered harsh criticism from online trolls targeting her choice of concealer.
Donegan has spoken out and revealed that she surprisingly respects the hater’s opinions.
‘When something significant like this occurs, there are bound to be numerous opinions,’ she explained to FOX News. ‘It’s a public space like the internet, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.’
Donegan believes ‘their opinion is their truth’ and will not let the judgment cloud her incredible win.
Despite her positive outlook, the pageant winner is not totally immune to the critics.
She told PEOPLE just because she respects others’ opinions does not mean she wants negative comments about her appearance.
Cassie Donegan, 28, was thrilled with her victory in the Miss America beauty pageant, but faced immediate backlash from online trolls criticizing her makeup appearance.
Donegan said she respects others’ opinions but that does not mean she wants negative comments about her appearance
The pageant winner acknowledges that ‘people are entitled to their opinions and the freedom to express them, and it’s impossible to be everyone’s favorite all the time.’
‘People have the right to their opinion to be able to share that, and no one’s going to be everyone’s favorite all of the time.’
Social media was flooded with mocking comments that targeted the 28-year-old’s stage look. Critics lambasted Donegan for applying the wrong shade of concealer in a video posted by the official Miss America account.
‘Congrats love! Let’s get you a new makeup artist,’ one user commented on the video.
‘Love it but we need to have someone fix her concealer. It’s a bit too white and drowns her out,’ another person wrote.
Some even jeered the first runner-up beauty queen, Miss Texas Sadie Schiermeyer, should have won instead.
Instead, Donegan is focusing her efforts on becoming a role model for younger audiences. She aims to inspire and encourage others by demonstrating that if she can achieve success, they can too.
‘I want them to believe in themselves, because if they don’t, no one else will. Empowerment really comes from within.’
‘If there’s even a small part of me that brings that spark out of them, then I’ve done my part. That will be something I will be grateful to be a part of.’
Donegan beat over 52 women representing all 50 states in the weekend’s competition.
Donegan is redirecting her attention to being a role model for younger girls, her goal is to uplift and motivate others
Donegan shared: ‘I want them to believe in themselves, because if they don’t, no one else will. Empowerment really comes from within’
Donegan beat over 52 women representing all 50 states in the weekend’s competition, she won a $50,000 tuition scholarship as part of her prize
She was crowned by the previous winner, Abbie Stockard from Alabama, and spoke about the importance of being true to yourself
She was crowned by the previous winner, Abbie Stockard from Alabama. She won a $50,000 tuition scholarship as part of her prize.
Donegan spoke about the importance of being true to yourself during her rapid-answer round, discussing ‘authentic self-expressions’ in professional settings.
‘I think that no one has the right to tell you what you can do with your own body. This is your vessel, and you should be able to walk around proudly in it.’
‘Miss America has always been a powerful springboard for ambitious women to turn their dreams into reality,’ she said in a press release.
Donegan is a singer and actor and won an award for her vocal gifts after the Miss America 2026 Talent Competition.
